Visiting The Fam in North Carolina

Phil and I are so excited to finally live in the same time zone as some family! We have been looking forward to living near Matt and Tricia for so long, we decided to take a break from moving in and hop down to North Carolina for a quick visit. We figured that Adam was already messed up from the move, so why not take a trip before he gets adjusted and just deal with it when we get back. He was a trooper, though, and had a great time visiting his Uncle Matt and Aunt Tricia.

Look at the size of that dog!!! Kala is Matt and Tricia's Great Dane. I could not get over how big she is, but she was great with Adam. I think he thought she was a horse - he loved giving her hugs and petting her.

Adam loved eating outside and watching the cars driving by. His favorite part was when a motorcycle sped past. He also made lots of friends with people walking. He has really started talking to people rather than just babbling to himself - it's pretty funny. If only we could understand him.

The gang at lunch.

Matt and Tricia took us wine tasting - something Phil and I really miss doing. Adam could only really handle two vineyards, but we'll do more some other time. We tasted some great wines and Adam got to play in a fountain. It was cool tasting wine from a different region - very different from California wines.

Phil found this little guy on a walk and brought him back for me. We put him in the sink for safe keeping until we were going to let him go. When we were at lunch, all of a sudden someone said, "hey, guys, did anyone take the turtle out of the sink before we left?" OOPS. Luckily, the turtle was still there when we got back and we let him go.

We also got to go and look at Matt and Tricia's new house. They close in a matter of days. It is such a neat house and it is on a big chunk of beautiful land.

Thanks, Matt and Tricia! We can't wait for more East Coast adventures with you!

Moving Casualty

There's always one - and this was an unfortunate one. Let me start at the beginning...
On our wedding day, Phil and I poured sand from two separate vases into one big one, symbolizing the intertwining of our lives. There were also small pebbles in the bottom of the large vase to symbolize God as the foundation of our marriage.
Here we are pouring the sand (mine was white and Phil's was natural) on our wedding day, August 13, 2005.

This vase has been displayed in our living room in each home we have been in since that day. Over time, the sand has shifted and settled. Phil likes to say that it's just like our marriage - the two colors of sand become more blended over time and it's harder to tell that there ever were two colors. Pretty clever, huh? He's a smart one.

Well, if you follow Phil's metaphor, I'm not sure if this next part is good or bad...
The movers packed our vase upside down. The seal broke in the box and when Grace unpacked it, all I heard was the smooth sound of sand sliding out of a glass vase, followed by the louder sound of pebbles hitting the packing paper, followed by absolute silence. I was sad, of course, but with some careful clean up and a kitchen ceremony, we were back in business.

First we sifted the sand out of the pebbles and placed our Rock foundation back in the bottom of the vase.

Then, Phil and I poured the sand back into the vase. Sure, it's not as pretty as the first time - but that's ok.

As you can see, the sand is pretty well mixed now. As Phil said, "Sometimes things get a little messy, and you have to really pour yourself back into your marriage." Where does this guy get this stuff? I love it.

Non-traditional Easter Dinner

We already have really enjoyed our new location because of the culture all around us that is just missing from Dayton. Obviously, there is DC with all of its splendor and museums, but there are also many more restaurants and grocery stores to investigate here. Phil discovered this international grocery store just a couple of minutes from our house. I went with him a couple of days later, and I must say - it is the coolest grocery store EVER! There is this whole seafood section in the back with every kind of fish you could ever want.

Of course I was a dork and took pictures. Yes, the guy behind the counter laughed at me. No, I didn't care. Yes, I cropped him out of the pictures. Who's laughing now?

There is fresh fish on ice...

along with clams, mussels, and other fun things. I'm going to learn a lot about cooking seafood while I'm here!

Now, I don't know if you noticed the price of the lobster in that first photo - $6.99 a pound! So, Phil and I decided to have a little adventure and prepare lobster for Easter dinner while my parents and sister were here. FUN!

"Hello, Mr. Lobster. Nice to meet you."
My dad thought we should take the rubber bands off his claws to give him a fighting chance. I didn't go for it, though.

Grace was pretty pumped about putting hers in the pot.

Mom was a little more sympathetic.

Ready to eat! They turned out so well, we couldn't believe it - our first try! We didn't really have the right utensils (notice the kitchen shears behind the salt and pepper shakers), so there was lobster flying everywhere. We had so much fun, though, and laughed a lot.

Grace getting ready to dig into her first lobster ever!

Egg Hunt

We did a little egg hunt in the yard for Adam on Easter. The eggs were filled with Teddy Grahams - one of his favorite treats.

I explained the idea to him (excuse my painting clothes).

And then he was on a mission.

He really enjoyed carrying around the basket and the eggs, but didn't really get the whole "putting the eggs in the basket" thing. Oh well, plenty of room for improvement next year.

For his Easter gift, he got a big sketch pad and some crayons. Look at him go! I know, he's gifted.

This was his reaction when we told him he couldn't eat the crayons.

Classic.

Happy Easter!

Awesome

There really was no other possible name for this post. This is awesome. My mom broke her foot a couple of months ago. I know...cripes, what was she thinking??? She is healing slowly, but it's been frustrating for her.
Mom was such a trooper while she was here helping us move in. In my opinion, she did way too much walking! BUT, when we went to KMart together, she...........wait for it..........she got one of the motorized carts to ride in!!! It was so flippin' funny! We were kind of afraid she would kill someone at first, but she got the hang of it.

Look out! She's on the move!

I gave her the all clear whenever she came to the end of an aisle so she wouldn't take anyone out.

Best photo-op ever. Period.
You rock, Mama!

New Stuff

We got some new stuff for the house. I think you know you're a home owner when the first place you learn how to drive to is Lowe's. I think Adam may be confused as to whether we are going to live at Lowe's or at our house. He's spent about the same amount of time at each, so far!

Phil mowing his lawn with his own mower for the first time! I'm sure the excitement of this will wear off, but for now we kind of dig it.

We also got a new little kitchen table and chairs. It is so nice to have a separate dining room to keep our actual dining room table in.
Here is Adam enjoying his first graham cracker at his new table. He still has his high chair, but gets excited about sitting at the new table.

Grandpa and Grandma L. and Aunt Grace were here helping us with the move on this end. Thank God for grandparents and Aunts! I think Grace walked about 10 miles with Adam while we unpacked and my parents were painting fools!

In Transit

Adam did great in the car, and more surprisingly, so did Pooser! We made our temporary home in a two bedroom suite until we closed on our house on March 31. Having the two bedroom was great - Adam could have his own room at night, and Pooser had plenty of room to roam.

Adam enjoyed himself in the kitchen. Who needs toys?

Not quite the same as the big screen, but at least he had his Elmo.

This photo is for you, Janice! My friend Janice knit this coffee cozy for me just before we left OH. I love it!

Last Days in the OH

Grandpa and Grandma Swenson stayed with us for a couple of days after Phil's graduation to help with the move. COULD NOT have done it without them! They brought us meals to pop in the oven after all our kitchen stuff was gone, which saved us from eating out for a week straight. They also took Adam for walks while the movers were at our house packing up and then cleaned up a storm! After a couple of days, though, we had to get creative. It was raining (perfect), so Peg and I took Adam to the mall to run around.

We started off in the kids' play area, but he was much more interested in the stores - go figure! So, we just let him run around where ever he felt like going.
Dick's was his first choice. He enjoyed watching the escalator for a bit. (Taking after his Grandpa L.)

"Come on, Guys. Try to keep up."

Adam wandered right into the Easter Bunny's park without even realizing it. And then...he noticed The Bunny. Whoa.

We chatted for just a bit, and then continued on our way.

The Easter Bunny gave Adam a little stuffed toy, which he carried around for the rest of the day. He is obsessed with doors, so he tried to close down every store in the mall.

We found some little coin operated rides. Fortunately, Adam was content to just climb in them, so we didn't have to spend the big bucks making them go.

This moving business isn't so bad...

Roughing it back at home.

Could we BE more white trash?

Thanks, Grandpa and Grandma for making this transition easier for all of us. We love you!

Saying our Goodbyes

As excited as I am to move on, the goodbyes are always tough. We have made so many wonderful friends in Ohio, and they are what we will miss. I didn't get as many photos as I was hoping to, so unfortunately I can't give a shout out to each wonderful friend.

Here is Adam's Friday Gang at our last meeting. It's been so fun to watch this group grow up together. Left to Right are Adam, Josiah, Brendan, Eliana, and Rachel.

The mamas of the Friday Gang. We got together for some fun at the Cheesecake Factory. I have treasured these girls - it is so wonderful to hang out with friends who all made the leap into motherhood within a month of me.

Our friends The Rowes are another bunch that we will miss terribly. Adam had such fun playing indoors, going for walks, and playing at the playground with his friends Ethan and Andy, and Phil and I always enjoyed our adult time with Ryan and Erin. The Rowes were so helpful while we were moving, providing a fun place for Adam to hang out after his toys went away. Such good friends.

God provided such great friends for us in Ohio. I don't have any photos, but The Hunts, my book club girls, and our small group Bible Study friends will all be missed as well! Thank you for blessing us during our short season in Ohio. You always have a place to stay in Virginia!

Phil: Master of Astronautical Engineering

Internet is up and running at our new place, so stay tuned for a bunch of posts regarding the end of our time in Ohio and our new home in Virginia!

Phil graduated from AFIT on March 25. His parents were able to come for the ceremony, and then stayed to help us with the move. The night of Phil's graduation was very memorable - there was a torrential downpour, which made parking interesting and last minute hair and make-up adjustments useless.
It was also a night I will never forget because of my Phil's great accomplishment. The ceremony was very nice. It is always a little overwhelming for me to attend these culminating events. I think I get caught up in the day-to-day process of these things, and then all of a sudden I am sitting in an auditorium with a bunch of other people reflecting on exactly what happened during the past eighteen months. My heart swelled when Phil's name was called - Captain Philip Swenson!

Susie and I sat together to watch our husbands' big moment. She took some pictures - the lighting at the Air Force Museum is awful, though.
There's Phil walking in!

Shaking the General's hand after receiving his diploma.

Here a "where's Waldo" shot for you. All the graduates turned around to applaud their support staff. Phil is in the first row toward the left. Can you find him???

My Graduate and Me!